Show ContentsAlmack History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Almack Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Almack

What does the name Almack mean?

The first people to use the name Almack were a family of Strathclyde-Britons who lived in the Scottish/English Borderlands. The name comes from when someone lived in "Argyleshire, who transposed the syllables of his name on coming to the South (England). Most if not all the existing hearers of this singular patronymic descend from a Richard Almoke, of Yorkshire, whose curious will, with that of his son John is printed in Arch. Journ, v. 316. In 34 and 35, Hen. VIII., this Richard is written Awmoke, and still later Hawmoke." 1

Another source claims the family is from "Almeneches, a location name in Normandy (?) There is a tradition that a Scotchman, coming to London, changed his name from MacAll to Allmack! It may be so." 2

Early Origins of the Almack family

The surname Almack was first found in Dumfriesshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Dhùn Phris), a Southern area, bordering on England that today forms part of the Dumfries and Galloway Council Area, where this curious name is descended from Robert M'Kawele, Lord of Karsneloughe, who was living in 1370 in Guffok land in Nithsdale. 3

Traditionally within the family name, the first Allmack or Allmark was a MacAll who on migrating south to Yorkshire found it more fashionable to drop the Mac from his name to become accepted in the English society. Progressively the name became Allmack, Allmark, Allmoke, Hawmoke. William Allmack, "one of the founders of the city of Victoria in that Colony (Hong Kong) was honored by Almack Place in that city. He died on his voyage from China in 1846. The Almack motto, based upon the supposed Scottish extraction of the race, is MACK AL SICKER." 1

Early History of the Almack family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Almack research. Another 135 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1500 and 1846 are included under the topic Early Almack History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Almack Spelling Variations

Surnames that evolved in Scotland in the Middle Ages often appear under many spelling variations. These are due to the practice of spelling according to sound in the era before dictionaries had standardized the English language. Almack has appeared as Allmark, Almark, Allmoke, Hawmoke, Hallmark, Allmack, Aulmark and many more.

Early Notables of the Almack family

More information is included under the topic Early Almack Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Almack family to Ireland

Some of the Almack family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Almack family

The North American colonies beckoned, with their ample land and opportunity as their freedom from the persecution suffered by so many Clan families back home. Many Scots even fought against England in the American War of Independence to gain this freedom. Recently, Clan societies have allowed the ancestors of these brave Scottish settlers to rediscover their familial roots. Among them: Thomas Allmark who settled in Barbados in 1780.

Contemporary Notables of the name Almack (post 1700) +

  • William Almack (d. 1781), English founder of the famous assembly-rooms that for nearly a century bore his name throughout London; he is thought to have descended from a Yorkshire family of Quakers

The Almack Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: MACK AL SICKER
  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  3. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)

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